Friday, 21 December 2012

End of the world dinner

Making tortillas in Oaxaca; squash, beans, tomatillos and physalis fruit

Mexican baby (so cute) and Chichen Itza in Mexico

Different types of Mole in Oaxaca; black bean chilli with chocolate and smoked chillis; cevicheria; different chillis.

Mayans ate a very similar diet to modern Mexicans: maize, beans, squash and chillis and sweet potato. This was supplemented with tomatoes (tomatoes with pasta, the Italian dish, dates only from the 19th century), husk tomatoes (tomatillos), avocado, and fruits such as papaya, pineapple, guava. Even our traditional christmas turkey is a new world animal. The invading Spaniards must have been amazed at the variety and novelty of new world foods. The discovery of America in 1492 heralded the modern era, it was as extraordinary as embarking upon extra-terrestrial travel. Can you imagine if we discovered a whole new part of the world today, with an entire new palate of flavours, spices and ingredients?

Haha, actually I waited around all day for the end and when it didn't come...Thanks I went to Mexico and Guatemala in 2007, and found it very inspiring. I could live in Mexico. And I adore the food.The faces are incredible: they are still the same people.

Get Started In Food Writing

V is for Vegan

MsMarmiteLover's Secret Tea Party

Supper Club: recipes and notes from the underground restaurant

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"The hundreds of diners who've attended one of Rodgers's supper clubs (aka MsMarmitelover, she is one of the pioneers of the movement in the UK) will be able to confirm, between satisfied burps, that she cooks the kind of food that people really want to eat. This is a beautifully designed collection of some of her most successful menus. Resistance is futile."

The Guardian on Supper Club: recipes and notes from the underground restaurant (Dec 2011)